A successful sound engineer, music producer and DJ (he’s worked with nearly every A-list MC and has collaborated on 10 of Jay Z’s albums), the music industry veteran is getting used to his new handle: “Professor Guru.” He’s guest-lectured in African-American music class, spent hours collaborating in seminars with advanced music marketing students and gives final project critiques to seniors majoring in popular music performance. But why did he decide to go from the mixing booth to college classrooms?

“It has to do with my wanting to teach and my ability to bring students into my world, and also to understand the things they need,” Guru explained.